The Unexpected Twist: Ciri's Jon Snow Connection Hints at an Epic Witcher Finale
Ciri's journey in The Witcher echoes Jon Snow's path in Game of Thrones, setting up an intriguing parallel between the two characters As Ciri repeats Jon's iconic I Don't Want It line, we explore the similarities and speculate on the possibility of a Mad Queen moment for Ciri in the upcoming season Brace yourself for a Witcher ending that mirrors Jon Snow's fate
Summary
Ciri and Jon Snow both face overwhelming responsibilities and temptations to give into darkness, revealing how their character arcs mirror each other.
Similar to Jon Snow, Ciri has endured immense sorrow and hardship, causing her to reject her destiny and proclaim "I have no desire for it," consequently shying away from her role as the appointed individual. The enigmatic prophecies encompassing Ciri and Jon Snow bring intricacy to their personalities, compelling them to confront obstacles and allurements prior to embracing their duties. Ciri's potential episode of becoming the "Mad Queen" in the fourth season serves as a parallel to Daenerys in Game of Thrones.
Ciri struggled with the weight of her role in The Witcher season 4, and she found solace in quoting Jon Snow's famous line from Game of Thrones. Despite being two distinct fantasy television series, both franchises depict their characters undergoing similar journeys. Ciri and Jon were both thrust unknowingly into worlds where they were expected to solve formidable challenges. Furthermore, both The Witcher and Game of Thrones explored the characters' inner battles with the allure of darkness, a theme that has not always been well-received. Ultimately, these parallels shed light on the future trajectory of Ciri's character.
As The Witcher season 4 unfolds, Ciri voluntarily relinquishes her powers and responsibilities, opting instead to join a cunning group of youngsters known as the Rats. This decision follows a nightmarish sequence in season 3, wherein the misplaced princess of Cintra unexpectedly teleports to the treacherous Korath Desert, also dubbed the Frying Pan. There, she endures days of hunger, desperation, and eventually succumbs to fire magic, ultimately claiming her first victim. The burdens of being Ciri have become overwhelmingly burdensome, aligning with the character development of other chosen ones in the fantasy genre.
Ciri Repeats Jon Snow's "I Don't Want It" In The Witcher Season 3
Ever since Game of Thrones concluded, Jon Snow's character has been summed up by one line: "I don't want it." This phrase has become a meme and gif, and is now an inside joke within the fandom. In The Witcher season 3, Ciri, following Jon's lead, utters the same line in episode 7, "Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan." It's understandable why Ciri would choose to reject the responsibility and expectations tied to her, as they have only brought her pain and suffering. Much like Jon, Ciri experienced the loss of her birth parents at a young age and witnessed the murder of those who had raised her due to war and politics. Despite creating a new family for herself, she too ended up losing them. Tragedy seems to haunt wherever Ciri goes, just as it did for Jon Snow. Both protagonists faced unimaginable hardships, constantly making difficult choices and striving to do what was right, only to see their loved ones suffer regardless. It's no surprise that they both reached the point where they declared, "I don't want it."
How Else Ciri Parallels Jon Snow
The connection between The Witcher's Ciri and Game of Thrones' Jon Snow, both representing the struggle and hesitation towards responsibility, is not a mere coincidence. These characters embody the Chosen One archetype, a common theme seen across various fictional stories known as the Heroes Journey. This archetype usually involves a prophecy foretelling the character's destiny to save the world, either due to their unique abilities or their predetermined position of power.
What sets Ciri's prophecy in The Witcher, as well as Jon Snow's in Game of Thrones, apart is their inherent ambiguity, leaving us uncertain about whether these characters are truly the ones destined to fulfill them. This uncertainty adds even more impact to the "challenges and temptations" phase of the Heroes Journey. It is during this phase that Jon and Ciri endure tremendous torment, reaching a point of wanting to relinquish their burdens and succumb to their darker desires. However, a crucial turning point follows, referred to as the "rebirth," where they embrace their responsibilities and choose to take action. This transformation was evident in Jon Snow's character arc in Game of Thrones, for better or worse, and it is likely to be the same for Ciri's journey in The Witcher.
Ciri May Also Have A "Mad Queen" Moment In The Witcher Season 4
Another aspect that sets Game of Thrones apart is that Jon Snow was not the only character who fulfilled the role of the Chosen One. The prophecy that is often associated with Jon can also be applied to Daenerys Targaryen. However, instead of achieving a rebirth, Daenerys succumbed to her personal challenges and temptations, ultimately becoming the Mad Queen in the Game of Thrones TV series. This transformation turned her into somewhat of an antihero, and it is possible that a similar change could occur for Ciri in season 4 of The Witcher.
In contrast to the prophecy in Game of Thrones, the one in The Witcher speaks of two individuals - one who will save the world and another who will bring about its destruction. As of season 3 of The Witcher, it remains uncertain which path Ciri will choose. If she is indeed a descendant of Falka, it is possible that she may follow in the footsteps of Daenerys and become the "Mad Queen" in HBO's version of Game of Thrones. Thankfully, the Witcher book series hints that she will continue to align more closely with Jon in the future.
How Ciri's The Witcher Ending Will Mirror Jon Snow In Game Of Thrones
While the Game of Thrones books have yet to conclude Jon Snow's storyline, the HBO series gives him an ambiguous ending. Despite killing Daenerys and preventing her from causing further destruction, Jon does not fully fulfill the prophecy of the "prince that was promised." Moreover, his ending cannot be considered a happy one. Most of the people he loved and wanted to protect are gone, and instead of sitting on the Iron Throne as expected, he is sent North of the wall. This outcome bears some resemblance to Ciri's ending in The Witcher books.
Similarly, Ciri's ending is also open-ended. All she wishes for is to reunite with Geralt and Yennefer, but Geralt ends up gravely wounded, and Yennefer sacrifices her life force in an attempt to save him through magic. The series leaves it to the readers' interpretation whether Geralt and Yennefer survive, while Ciri departs for Camelot, where she is expected to forge a new life for herself. Of course, the Netflix series could take a different direction, with Ciri following Daenerys' path instead of Jon Snow's, potentially resulting in a clearer outcome regarding Geralt and Yennefer's fate in The Witcher. Only time will reveal the answer.
